Packing apparatus for railroad track packing machines

ABSTRACT

A scissors-like apparatus for packing a ballast beneath railroad ties comprising a pair of rocking levers pivotally mounted on a shaft disposed horizontally and transversely to the track supported by the ties, and a packing plate secured to the lower end of each of said levers. The plates are moved in opposite directions to push the ballast under the ties by means of an adjustable link means interposed between the levers and pivotally connected thereto. In one form, the adjustable link means is connected to the upper ends of the levers above said pivot shaft, and in another form, the adjustable link means is connected to the levers below the pivot shaft.

United States Patent [191 Sieke et a].

[451 Mar. 26, 1974 PACKING APPARATUS FOR RAILROAD TRACK PACKING MACHINES [75] Inventors: I-Ielmut E. Sieke,

Wulferode/l-lannover; Rainer W. Sieke, l-lannover-Kirchrode, both of Germany [73] Assignee: Research Corporation, New York,

22 Filed: Nov. 24, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 309,138

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 68,727, Sept. 1, 1970,

abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 104/12 [51] E01b 27/16 [58] Field of Search 104/l0-12 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,357,366 12/1967 Plasser et al 104/12 Jackson 104/12 Mertz 104/12 Primary ExaminerRobert G. Sheridan Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Molinare, Allegretti, Newitt & Witcoff [5 7] ABSTRACT A scissors-like apparatus for packing a ballast beneath railroad ties comprising a pair of rocking levers pivotally mounted on a shaft disposed horizontally and transversely to the track supported by the ties, and a packing plate secured to the lower end of each of said levers. The plates are moved in opposite directions to push the ballast under the ties by means of an adjustable link means interposed between the levers and pivotally connected thereto. In one form, the adjustable link means is connected to the upper ends of the levers above said pivot shaft, and in another form, the adjustable link means is connected to the levers below the pivot shaft.

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PACKING APPARATUS FOR RAILROAD TRACK PACKING MACHINES This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 68,727, filed Sept. 1, 1970 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a packing apparatus for railroad track packing machines having at least two packing plates which penetrate into the same bay between sleepers (ties) and compress the ballast bed material beneath the sleepers by an opening movement of the packing plates.

With such packing apparatus it is intended, by the accumulation of compacted ballast bed material, to produce a so-called compressed hill of ballast below each point where a rail and a sleeper intersect. Such ballast hills serve substantially as end supports for the body of the sleeper concerned, in order to prevent a situation where the sleeper is allowed to rock about the center of its length, i.e., rocking of the sleeper on the ballast bed. These ballast hills determine the precise level of the track, and very close tolerances have to be observed.

PRIOR ART In a known (prior art) packing apparatus, the compacting of the ballast bed material is carried out with two large-surface packing plates each of which is mounted at an articulation and are positioned in wedge-shaped formation relative to one another when they penetrate into the ballast. The wedge-arranged ballast plates penetrate into the ballast material up to their upper edge, and after penetrating they are opened out from one another, pressing the ballast material towards and below the sleepers.

Owing to the use of large-surface packing plates, in

the known arrangement a considerable force has to be applied in order to obtain an adequate compacting pressure. The restoring forces which occur result in a considerable stressing of the means whereby the packing apparatus is suspended in the frame of the track packing machine. The large surface area of the packing plates also makes it necessary to construct the track packing machine in such a heavy and, therefore, expensive manner that when using several packing apparatus the restoring forces can be absorbed without lifting the track packing machine off the track, since in this case it would no longer be possible to level the track and observe the required tolerances.

Although it is possible to reduce the restoring forces by reducing the packing plate surface, this proposal cannot be used in the known track packing machine. For if the width of the wedge formed of the packing plates is made substantially smaller than the width of a sleeper bay, it is no longer possible with the known packing apparatus to compact the ballast material below the relevant sleepers. Although it is true that even by a very narrow wedge driven into the ballast material between two neighboring sleepers some ballast material is always pressed below the sleepers, it is not possible in this way to achieve any adequate compacting or even leveling of the track, since without doubt the ballast material will follow the line of least resistance and will be pressed upwards laterally between packing apparatus and sleeper. In order to avoid this, the packing plates of the known packing apparatus must be made so large that they cover almost the entire stones having an edge length of about 55 mm, and 4 wherein it is important to produce so-called compressed hills of ballast below each sleeper-rail intersection, for which purpose the large-surface packing plates with their small depth of penetration into the ballast bed are completely unsuitable.

Packing apparatus are also already known whose packing plates penetrate into neighboring sleeper bays at both sides of a sleeper and pack the surrounded sleeper by moving the two packing plates towards one another with a kind of tongs action. Such packing apparatus have important disadvantages compared with packing apparatus whose packing plates penetrate into a sleeper bay between two sleepers. These disadvantages comprise inter alia the fact that when packing switch points, crossings or other track regions which do not allow simultaneous packing of a sleeper from both sides, a complicated conversion of the packing apparatus is required in order to permit unilateral packing. This conversion requires, for example, dismantling one packing plate.

THE PRESENT INVENTION In the case of a packing apparatus whose packing plates penetrate into one sleeper bay, these disadvantages are obviated according to the invention in that each of the packing plates is rigidly secured to the lower end of a rocking lever associated with it, and each rocking lever is mounted on a shaft situated approximately horizontally and transversely to the track and is so formed that in the initial position the lower parts of the rocking levers, penetrating with the packing plates into the ballast material, in each pair of packing plates are situated in a closely adjacent position relative to one another with the packing plates situated in substantially parallel fashion, whereas the upper portions of the rocking levers of a pair are spaced further from one another and are each provided with a pivot point on which acts an adjusting means which is arranged between them and which, by varying its effective length, causes the rocking levers of the pair to pivot in opposite directions.

It is now possible with a packing apparatus according to the invention to work in sleeper bays of different width or in sleeper bays in which rodding or cables connected with signaling installations or the like are laid, without requiring adaptation of the packing apparatus or conversion of the track packing machine.

It is also possible now to compact the ballast material not only in the upper layers as is the case with the known large-surface packing plates, but in the deeper layers also, as is necessary more particularly for producing compressed hills of ballast. By packing plates directed substantially parallel to one another the resistance when the ballasting apparatus penetrates into the ballast material is substantially reduced, so that complicated and heavy frame constructions for receiving the restoring forces in the track packing machines are no longer necessary. The restoring forces emanating from the opening movements of the packing plates, which as a rule have vibration movements superimposed on them, load neither the machine frame nor the suspension of the packing apparatus, since these forces substantially compensate one another at the pivot points of the rocking levers. As a result, the entire construction of a large packing machine equipped with packing apparatus according to the invention has only to accept the packing apparatus suspension and holding forces, so that the construction can be substantially lighter than hitherto.

In a convenient embodiment of the invention, a shaft common to the rocking lever is arranged at the upper ends of the rocking levers. This form of embodiment has the advantage of a stabilized suspension at the topmost point of the packing apparatus and requires only relatively little space in the frame of the large packing machine, so that the packing apparatus itself is very easily accessible for maintenance work or the like.

If an extremely high compacting effect is desired with a packing apparatus according to the invention, a form of embodiment is advantageous wherein a shaft common to the rocking levers is arranged in the central portion of the rocking levers, the rocking levers preferably crossing one another in the manner of scissors arms preferably in the region of the common shaft. The advantage of this form of embodiment relative to the firstmentioned results from a better force, load and lever relationship between the adjusting device and the load application points on the packing plates.

An expedient further development of the invention is characterized in that the packing direction of each packing plate, measured towards the horizontal lower edge of the particular sleeper which is packed, has an angle of or greater than In an expedient arrangement, this can be achieved in that the shafts of the rocking levers which are pivotable relative to one another are arranged in a spacing from one another and are situated vertically above neighboring track sleepers in the working position of the packing apparatus.

In another arrangement, the packing plates are arranged on the lower end of carriers which are arranged parallel to one another and are adjustable relative to one another in a horizontal direction on guides.

The main advantage of this arrangement is that the packing direction of the packing plates penetrating into the ballast does not have any component directed from below towards the sleeper, but is substantially horizontal, and in the form of embodiment wherein the pivot shafts of the rocking levers in the working position of the packing apparatus are vertically above the rails, is overlaid by a component directed downwardly away from the sleeper.

As a result inaccuracies such as occur in the case of apparatus with an upwardly directed packing direction are reliably obviated. Such an arrangement produced a compressed hill of ballast whose cross-section narrowed in the, downward direction, and it was not possible to prevent this hill from adjusting itself of its own accord by the slipping-down of ballast material after a relatively short working life in such a manner that its cross-section narrowed upwardly. This spontaneous adjustment of the angle of slope in its turn necessarily lowered the track position, which has also to be taken into account when packing sleepers. Since the selfadjusting angle of slope is naturally influenced inter alia by disturbing factors which occur in the neighboring ballast material, the sinking cannot be calculated in advance with the precision necessary if the desired tolerances are to be observed. On the contrary, with the packing apparatus according to the present invention, a hill is formed which is wider at the base than at the summit, so that the angle of slope changes only to a very slight extent, if at all, by spontaneous adjustment. Avoiding subsequent sinking of the track position in this ways permits satisfactory leveling of tracks.

The substantially horizontal packing direction also completely obviates over-pressing in the packing operation. This over-pressing involves a certain lifting of the sleeper during packing, which in the case of hitherto known packing apparatus with an obliquely upwardly directed packing direction was caused by the fact that the upwardly directed component necessarily pressed a portion of the ballast bed upwards. It is true that in the known arrangements this lifting of the sleeper is immediately counteracted again when the packing plates are withdrawn, but this over-pressing makes it difficult to level the track precisely within the desired tolerance limits.

A further advantage is obtained by the horizontal packing direction in the subsequent packing of a track which is already completely laid. Here, in every case the necessary natural angle of slope of a ballast hill has been set in accordance with the track load and the surrounding disturbing factors. Subsequent packing of the ballast with a packing apparatus whose packing directions are in an upward sense disturbs the existing bank and thus changes the natural angle of slope. As a result the disadvantages already indicated as regards track leveling then occur, which may be avoided according to the invention by arranging the packing direction to be substantially horizontal or downward. The hill of ballast is consequently left in its existing form and consolidated.

A further embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the rocking levers are connected by means of transmission rods with rocking levers of at least one further packing apparatus operating in the same way, and in that only one adjusting device is provided for the joint operation of the apparatus.

As a result, the outlay in a track packing machine having a plurality of apparatus can be further reduced if it is not absolutely necessary to enable each packing apparatus tobe lowered independently. The transmission rods are conveniently arranged interchangeably so that by using transmission rods of different length it is possible to adapt the spacings of the apparatus to the possibly different sleeper spacing in different sections of track.

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS Examples of embodiment of the invention are shown diagrammatically in the drawings and will be explained in detail hereinafter. In the drawings, all of which are semi-diagrammatic;

FIGS. 1 to 3 show forms of embodiment wherein the rocking levers are arranged on a common pivot shaft;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show forms of embodiment wherein the rocking levers are mounted on separate pivot shafts spaced from one another;

FIG. 6 shows a form of embodiment wherein the packing plates are arranged on parallel-arranged, displaceable carriers;

FIG. 7 shows a form of embodiment wherein two packing apparatus according to FIG. 4 are coupled together.

Except for the form of embodiment shown in FIG. 6, each of the packing apparatus has two rocking levers 3 and 4. A packing plate 1 is rigidly secured to the lower end of each rocking lever.

The rocking levers 3 and 4 are so constructed that when the packing apparatus penetrates into the ballast material the packing plates 1 are in a closely adjacent and substantially parallel position relative to one another. The upper portions 3', 4 of the rocking levers of a packing apparatus are spaced further from one another and each has an articulation 6, 7 respectively. Between these two articulations, there is arranged an adjusting device 5 which, by the variation of its effective length, causes the two rocking levers of a packing apparatus to pivot in opposite directions to one another.

In the forms of embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the pivoting movement is effected about a shaft 2 which is common to the rocking levers.

In the forms of embodiment according to FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, the pivoting movement is carried out about two pivot shafts l and 11 which are arranged separately,

one for each rocking lever and spaced from one another. In this case it is important that the rocking lever pivot points which are connected rigidly by means of a connecting rod 12, are at a spacing from one another which is at least equal to the sleeper bay width, whereby according to the invention it is insured that the packing direction of the packing plates is directed horizontally or obliquely downwards. In FIG. 4 it is shown in a vector diagram for the packing plate of the lever arm 4 that the substantially obliquely downward packing direction has a horizontal component and a component directed vertically downwards. The track sleepers, between which the packing apparatus penetrates, are designated as 9.

The forms of embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and differ simply in that the pivot points 6 and 7 between which the adjusting device 5 is secured and the pivot shafts 10 and 11 coupled rigidly by a connecting rod 12 are interchanged. In the form of embodiment according to FIG. 5 the overall width can be reduced by curving the upper parts 3 and 4' of the rocking levers inwardly in the direction towards the adjusting device 5, which may be advantageous more particularly if a plurality of apparatus are arranged adjacent one another in a machine.

In the example of embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, instead of the rocking levers 3 and 4 there are used substantially parallel-arranged carriers 13 and 14 which carry the packing plates 1 at their lower end. The carriers 13 and 14 are arranged to be horizontally adjustable on diagrammatically illustrated guides 15 and 16 which are, for example, telescopic. As in the other forms of embodiment, adjustment is effected by means of an adjusting device 5 which acts on the carriers 13 and 14. The adjusting device 5 can be constructed, e.g., as an adjusting motor operated by a pressure medium, and which has vibration movements superimposed on it also by means of the working medium. Such adjusting motors generally comprise a cylinder with two pistons whose piston rods extend from the respective ends of the cylinder.

FIG. 6 shows an arrangement with two packing apparatus according to FIG. 3, having the same reference numerals. The rocking levers 3 and 4 of the two apparatus are connected by pivotably attached transmission rods 17 and 18 respectively so that it is possible for the two apparatus to be operated jointly with only one adjusting device.

It is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention which has been described is merely illustrative of one application of the principles of the invention. Numerous modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiment without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Packing apparatus for a railroad track packing machine having at least one pair of packing plates which penetrate into the sam sleeper bay and compact the ballast material outwards under different sleepers by an opening movement of the packing plates, comprising a pair of vertically-disposed rocking levers each mounted on separate pivot shafts arranged approximately horizontally and transversely to the track, said pivot shafts, of the rocking leve'rs pivotable relative to one another, being spaced from one another a distance at least equal to that between neighboring sleepers;

the lower end portions of said rocking levers adapted to move from an initial closed penetration position outwards to an open, compacting position;

a packing plate secured to the lower end of each of said rocking levers to compress ballast material outward by the opening movement of the rocking levers;

said packing plates being in a closely spaced position upon entering the ballast to allow deep penetration of the plates into the ballast and having a substantially horizontal and downward packing direction, measured relative to the horizontal lower edge of the particular sleeper packed, the packing direction of each packing plate measured relative to the lower edge of the particular sleeper packed, having an angle of 0 or greater;

said rocking levers adap t ed to extend above the track when the plates penetrate into the sleeper; and,

adjusting means for moving said levers positioned between the upper portions of said rocking levers and pivotally connected thereto,

whereby the ballast is compacted horizontally and downwardly by varying the effective length of said adjusting means to pivot the rocking levers in opposite direction.

2. Packing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the packing plates are arranged on the lower end of vertical carriers disposed parallel to one another and are adjustable horizontally relative to one another on guides.

3. Packing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the rocking levers are connected by means of transmission rods to the rocking levers of a further adjacent packing apparatus and that only one adjusting device is provided for the joint operation of the apparatus.

4. Packing apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that said apparatus includes means for vibrating said packing plates while compacting said ballast.

III I I 

1. Packing apparatus for a railroad track packing machine having at least one pair of packing plates which penetrate into the sam sleeper bay and compact the ballast material outwards under different sleepers by an opening movement of the packing plates, comprising a pair of vertically-disposed rocking levers each mounted on separate pivot shafts arranged approximately horizontally and transversely to the track, said pivot shafts, of the rocking levers pivotable relative to one another, being spaced from one another a distance at least equal to that between neighboring sleepers; the lower end portions of said rocking levers adapted to move from an initial closed penetration position outwards to an open, compacting position; a packing plate secured to the lower end of each of said rocking levers to compress ballast material outward by the opening movement of the rocking levers; said packing plates being in a closely spaced position upon entering the ballast to allow deep penetration of the plates into the ballast and having a substantially horizontal and downward packing direction, measured relative to the horizontal lower edge of the particular sleeper packed, the pacKing direction of each packing plate measured relative to the lower edge of the particular sleeper packed, having an angle of 0* or greater; said rocking levers adapted to extend above the track when the plates penetrate into the sleeper; and, adjusting means for moving said levers positioned between the upper portions of said rocking levers and pivotally connected thereto, whereby the ballast is compacted horizontally and downwardly by varying the effective length of said adjusting means to pivot the rocking levers in opposite direction.
 2. Packing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the packing plates are arranged on the lower end of vertical carriers disposed parallel to one another and are adjustable horizontally relative to one another on guides.
 3. Packing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the rocking levers are connected by means of transmission rods to the rocking levers of a further adjacent packing apparatus and that only one adjusting device is provided for the joint operation of the apparatus.
 4. Packing apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that said apparatus includes means for vibrating said packing plates while compacting said ballast. 